Chantilly, VA Real Estate

Chantilly is a community located in western Fairfax County. It is named after an early 19th century mansion of the same name constructed by Charles Calvert Stuart for his wife, Cornelia Lee Stuart. The area now known as Chantilly was home to a number of colonial plantations in the 1700's, including Sully Plantation, built by Richard Bland Lee I, “Leeton,” home of George Richard Lee Turberville's family, and the John Hutchison Farm. Growth of the village largely occurred during the 19th century, following the construction of Little River Turnpike (Route 50) to Winchester, Virginia.

During the American Civil War on September 1, 1862, the Battle of Chantilly (or Ox Hill) was fought nearby. Following his victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run (or Second Manassas), Confederate General Robert E. Lee directed Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson to cross Bull Run on August 31 and sweep around the position of Major General John Pope's Union Army of Virginia at Centreville. Reaching the Little River Turnpike northwest of Centreville, Jackson turned southeastward toward Fairfax Court House (now Fairfax, Virginia) to strike in rear of Pope's army.

During September 1, Pope, informed of Jackson's movement, began to withdraw his troops toward the Court House in Fairfax City. Late in the day, Jackson clashed with Union forces under Brigadier General Isaac Stevens and Major General Philip Kearny near Ox Hill, west of Fairfax. During the ensuing battle, which was fought amid a raging storm, both Union generals Stevens and Kearny were killed. The fighting ended at dusk, and Pope's army continued its withdrawal to Fairfax and subsequently to the Washington defenses.

Chantilly suffered during the Civil War and was the site of Northern occupation forces. The Chantilly manor home was destroyed in 1863 by a fire set by Federal troops. When Cornelia Lee Stuart died in 1883, she was deeply in debt and Chantilly farm was sold off to pay those debts.

Commercial and residential development now covers most of the Chantilly (Ox Hill) battlefield. Fairfax County Park Authority has preserved five acres of the battle site.

Quality of Life

Named one of the best places to retire by US News and World Report, Chantilly has a population of just under 50,000 residents. Housing is priced in the “affordable” range for Northern Virginia. Garden apartments and townhomes are available starting in the mid to high $100,000’s. Single family detached homes range in price from the mid $300,000 to over $1,000,000.

Chantilly is located in the heart of the Northern Virginia technology corridor with easy access to the Dulles Airport and the surrounding business parks. Corporations located in Chantilly include The Aerospace Corporation, Intel, and Computer Sciences Corporation. The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is an extension of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. It was built on the northwest corner of Chantilly near Dulles Airport. Admission to the museum is free. Fairfax County Public Library operates the Chantilly Regional Library.

Transportation

Chantilly is served by two major roads. Virginia Route 28 runs north and south and is the main artery through Chantilly. Route 50, Lee Jackson Memorial Highway traverses Chantilly east and west. Additionally, Westfields Boulevard crosses Chantilly north and south. Interstate 66 is the closest major highway. Fairfax Connector buses connect the community to the Metrorail system.